Martin D-18 (1954)
This 1954 Martin D-18 was brought to us by the granddaughter of the original owner, who'd inherited it from him in the early 1980's. When she brought it to us, she indicated the original tuning machines had been replaced and discarded long ago, and that the bridge had been shaved down several times over the past three decades--but the inside of the guitar was clean as a whistle and the neck had never been off. We've just had a neck reset & refret done at TJ Thompson's shop, where a new Brazilian Rosewood bridge was also installed. (The new bridge features 2 3/16" string spacing -- a bit more room than a standard 1950's bridge offers.) If you've been on the hunt for a great vintage D-18, and you're not interested in pre-war price tags, well, look no further. This wonderful sounding guitar is as good as a mid-50's D-18 gets: rich and clear, crisp and full (as the song goes) ... it's everything a guitar ought to be. Great low end for a non-scalloped guitar, and a golden, singing voice that'll instantly please fans of the Doc Watson School of Flatpicking. Priced with non-original, not-vintage hard case. Please call us and ask for Andy if you'd like to discuss this guitar.
- Serial No. 139953
- Mahogany back & sides
- Spruce top
- Neck reset, new frets & Brazilian Rosewood bridge
- PLEK treatment
- 1 11/16" nut width
- 25.4" Scale length
- 2 3/16" string spacing
Every instrument is thoroughly checked and set up before shipping fully insured via UPS with tracking to your door. We reuse boxes and materials to cut waste when they meet our protection standard.
Inspect it, play it, and if it isn't right, contact us within 48 hours of delivery to arrange a return or one-time exchange. Returns are subject to a 5% restocking fee, and the buyer covers shipping both ways.
Pricing
We price vintage instruments using current market trends and our extensive in-house sales history, ensuring each piece is accurately valued and fairly positioned.
Tasteful Restoration
When restoration is needed, we approach it with respect and restraint - always in service of preserving the instrument’s integrity and extending its musical life for decades to come.
Accurate Listings
Every vintage guitar we list is authenticated by our seasoned team and photographed in high detail, with clear, honest descriptions that show exactly what you’re buying - no surprises.
Shipping
With decades of experience shipping high-value guitars, we know how to pack and protect vintage instruments so they arrive exactly as they should: safe, sound, and ready to play.